learning through play   Scientists have concluded the first 8 years of life as the most crucial period of learning. The rate at which humans learn at this stage is unequalled. It lays the foundation of an adult who is physically, emotionally, socially and cognitively healthy. Thus, you can imagine the importance of quality primary education and the means to impart it. The early years learning framework is highly significant in a child’s overall development. Each school follows a different learning approach. It varies from explicit instructions to a more relaxed play-based education. Over the years, learning by play has proven to be superior to academic-based learning.  

What is Play-based Learning?

Play is an indispensable part of a child’s life. NAEYC states that it comes naturally by “the desire to understand the world”. Children learn through play as they explore their environment and adapt to it accordingly. They learn to imagine, hypothesize and experiment by playing. Hence, the play-based approach involves child-initiated activities, supported by teachers. There are no definite or desirable end results to them. Teachers act as a facilitator and don’t exert control explicitly. They guide and encourage children to think and act on their own. It’s child-centric because they decide the activities according to their interests. Such learning can occur through both indoor and outdoor activities. Some examples of learning through play are:  
  • Drawing and painting let the child gain a better understanding of the world around them. For instance, they learn different sizes, shapes and colours of objects.
  • The type of play that uses blocks or puzzles helps young children develop keen spatial intelligence. It helps them experiment and sort things in order.
  • Group activities, such as role-playing, augment their social skills and spirit of teamwork.
 

Elements of Play-Based Learning

According to Zosh et al, effective play is meaningful, fun, immersive, iterative and interactive. NAEYC further elaborates the five elements of Play-based Learning:  
  • Decision Making: The teachers act as guiding agents in Play. They can only prompt and provide context for learning. Children’s interests determine their learning environment. They decide what they want to play as well as how and when. The freedom to choose helps them connect those choices with their consequences.
  • Motivation: The desire to play is intrinsic for children and as potent as their need to eat or sleep. When they are allowed free reign over play-time, they learn to recognize and regulate their own needs. It helps them gain self-awareness and exercise self-control.
  • Spontaneous: The activities are unstructured, without a definite start, end or agenda. Since the play is unplanned the child learns to adapt and become flexible. For instance, if their playmate wants to change the game, they must adapt accordingly or they do not get to play at all.
  • Imagination: Without a goal or a structure, imagination becomes the most essential element of the play. The child is left to think and act freely without direct instructions. This magnifies their creativity and imaginative abilities. For instance, a child can consider a stick as a sword or a wand and a blanket as a cape or a veil.
  • Engaging and Enjoyable: Students need to emotionally connect with the play to have a lasting impact. Simply indulging in an activity doesn’t facilitate learning. The child needs to fully immerse, physically and emotionally, to enjoy the experience. It needs to be thrilling and pleasurable for the students.
 

Benefits of Play-Based Learning

Learning through play enriches each facet of the child’s development. It makes them actively involved in the learning process and equipped for higher school grades. Here’s why play-based learning in primary schools is highly advantageous over other approaches:  
  • Motor Skills Activities- Running, Jumping, Climbing, Skipping, Drawing, Art and Craft, Sand Play etc – It hones the child’s gross and fine motor skills. – It enhances both hand and hand-eye coordination. – It augments their spatial, tactile and sensory experiences. – It makes the child active and agile.
  • Communication Skills Activities- Pretend-plays with toys and others, Group or Partner activities, etc. – Child learns to recognize and communicate their thoughts and ideas. – Child begins to listen and understand others. – It enhances their vocabulary and language skills. – Soft skills are learned and developed. – It helps them narrate their opinions and emotions effectively.
  • Social and Emotional Development Activities- Role play such as Doctor or Family, Art and Crafts etc. – Children learn to perceive their own and other’s emotions. – Sharing their feelings and thoughts help them cope with their emotions. – Play instils a sense of empathy and responsibility in children. – It boosts the child’s interaction and cooperation skills. – The child learns to discuss, negotiate and compromise. – It helps them to make friends and fosters healthy relationships.
  • Creativity and Imagination Activities- Blocks, Puzzles, Shape Sorters, Playdough, Pretend games with objects or toys, etc. – It prompts the child to manipulate and experiment with objects. – Play fosters a sense of curiosity and creativity in them. – It helps to expand their vision and thinking capacity. – Imaginative play is most enjoyable and a significant part of childhood.
  • Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Activities- Most types of play activities such as nature play, building blocks or Legos, puzzles, etc. – Quality play-based activities improve the cognitive skills of the child. – Children start to recognize, divide, group and order things. – It makes them examine patterns and connections in different scenarios. – Children learn to determine the cause & effect relationships of their actions. – The child begins to think out of the box and solve problems creatively. – It helps them predict outcomes of situations and make wise choices.
  • Sense of Self All types of Play develop an integrated sense of self in the child. – When a child successfully faces a new situation, it boosts their self-confidence. – Being physically active and creative raises the child’s self-esteem. – Engaging in group play activities makes the child feel emotionally secure and connected. – Building proficient soft skills makes the child feel competent in social scenarios. – Play-based classrooms and teachers supporting children make them independent and self-sufficient.
  The need of the hour is to look beyond the costs, accreditations and academic statuses of pre-schools. Focus on the learning program used to educate your child. Each and every child learns through play. Teacher-supported play is one of the best learning approaches for primary school education. Play-based learning theory ensures comprehensive growth of the students. Let your child embrace a healthy and happy education system through playful learning!